Rory McIlroy is capable of reaching double figures of major victories, according to former Ryder Cup winner David Howell.
The Northern Irishman already features heavily in the record books having become only the fourth man to defend the Masters a year after completing the career grand slam at Augusta.
He now has six to his name, the same as Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino, but Howell believes he still has a decade left at the highest level and could put himself behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Tiger Woods (15) with third-placed Walter Hagen (11) a realistic target.
“He can get to double figures – and right now if someone said over or under for nine when he’s done I’d go over,” Howell told the Press Association at the launch of the DS Automobiles N°8 Challenge in partnership with Toptracer.
“That’s what I’d expect from him over the next decade, four more majors, I could see that out of the next 40.
“I think that would excite McIlroy. He knows the history of the game. Double figures is a serious feat and I think he’ll really go at it.
“I don’t think he’ll tell anyone that’s what his goal is but I think he’d probably like to get past Gary Player (nine).
“He’s fitter and stronger than ever. He’s hitting the ball further than he used to and he used to be the longest anyway.
“Could you argue that there’s better iron players out there or straighter drivers? Of course, but ultimately he hits it as far as anyone, he’s good at every aspect of the game.”
Although he matched Faldo’s feat of successfully defending the Masters and his tally of six majors, there is little doubt the Northern Irishman is definitively the best European golfer of all time.
“He’s got the grand slam so he trumps Sir Nick. Everybody loves Seve (Ballesteros, who has five majors) and is Rory a bigger star than Seve? Probably not,” Howell added.
“In some ways Rory wouldn’t necessarily want to be classed in that, that’s not a face-off you need to win, is it, but he’s won one more major than Seve and ultimately he is our greatest ever golfer.”
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